Starts Tomorrow Book Now!

Curious to Credentialed

Coaching For Africa In South Africa. Available Online and Open To Global Customers

COACH TRAINING PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Duration: 20 weeks
Sessions: 40 (2 per week)
Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Time: 16:00 – 17:30
Outcome:
- ICF Core Competency readiness
- COMENSA Level 1 portfolio readiness
- Real coaching hours + practice + feedback

FULL 20-WEEK SCHEDULE + CURRICULUM

WEEK 1 – Foundations of Coaching

Week 1

Tue: Session 1 – What is Coaching? (vs Mentoring, Therapy, Consulting)
Thu: Session 2 – Coaching Mindset vs Fixing Mindset

Week 2

Tue: Session 3 – ICF vs COMENSA Frameworks Explained
Thu: Session 4 – Ethics & Professional Standards

WEEK 3–4 – Coaching Presence & Core Skills

Week 3

Tue: Session 5 – Coaching Presence (Holding Space)
Thu: Session 6 – Deep Listening (Levels 1, 2, 3 Listening)

Week 4

Tue: Session 7 – Powerful Questioning (Basics)
Thu: Session 8 – Building Trust & Psychological Safety

WEEK 5–6 – Communication Mastery

Week 5

Tue: Session 9 – Direct Communication & Clarity
Thu: Session 10 – Emotional Intelligence in Coaching

Week 6

Tue: Session 11 – Non-Verbal Communication
Thu: Session 12 – Language Patterns & Reframing

WEEK 7–8 – Goal Setting & Structure

Week 7

Tue: Session 13 – Goal Setting Models (SMART, CLEAR)
Thu: Session 14 – Contracting & Setting Expectations

Week 8

Tue: Session 15 – Structuring a Coaching Session
Thu: Session 16 – Accountability & Follow-ups

WEEK 9–10 – Coaching Tools & Techniques

Week 9

Tue: Session 17 – GROW Model Deep Dive
Thu: Session 18 – Wheel of Life Tool

Week 10

Tue: Session 19 – Limiting Beliefs Coaching
Thu: Session 20 – Values Elicitation

WEEK 11–12 – Advanced Coaching Skills

Week 11

Tue: Session 21 – Challenging the Client
Thu: Session 22 – Intuition in Coaching

Week 12

Tue: Session 23 – Silence as a Tool
Thu: Session 24 – Coaching for Awareness

WEEK 13–14 – Behaviour & Change

Week 13

Tue: Session 25 – Behaviour Change Models
Thu: Session 26 – Habit Formation Coaching

Week 14

Tue: Session 27 – Neuroscience Basics for Coaches
Thu: Session 28 – Managing Resistance

WEEK 15–16 – Real Coaching Practice

Week 15

Tue: Session 29 – Live Coaching Practice 1
Thu: Session 30 – Feedback & Reflection

Week 16

Tue: Session 31 – Live Coaching Practice 2
Thu: Session 32 – Mentor Coaching Session

WEEK 17–18 – Professional Coaching Skills

Week 17

Tue: Session 33 – Coaching Business Fundamentals
Thu: Session 34 – Ethics Case Studies

Week 18

Tue: Session 35 – Documentation & Logbooks (COMENSA)
Thu: Session 36 – Preparing for ICF Assessment

WEEK 19–20 – Certification Readiness

Week 19

Tue: Session 37 – Final Coaching Practice (Observed)
Thu: Session 38 – Feedback + Competency Scoring

Week 20

Tue: Session 39 – Portfolio Submission Preparation
Thu: Session 40 – Graduation + Next Steps

60 CORE TOPICS COVERED

Here are the 60 topics embedded across sessions:

Foundations

What is coaching
Coaching vs mentoring
Coaching vs therapy
Coaching vs consulting
Coaching mindset
Growth vs fixing mindset

Ethics & Standards

ICF competencies
COMENSA competencies
Ethics principles
Confidentiality
Boundaries
Professional conduct

Core Skills

Coaching presence
Active listening
Deep listening
Powerful questioning
Open vs closed questions
Building trust

Communication

Direct communication
Emotional intelligence
Non-verbal cues
Language patterns
Reframing
Feedback delivery

Coaching Process

Goal setting
SMART goals
Contracting
Session structure
Accountability
Measuring progress

Tools

GROW model
Wheel of life
Values elicitation
Limiting beliefs
Visualization
Scaling questions

Advanced Skills

Intuition
Silence
Challenging clients
Awareness creation
Pattern recognition
Perspective shifting

Behaviour Change

Behaviour models
Habit formation
Neuroscience basics
Resistance
Motivation
Identity change

Practice

Live coaching
Feedback models
Reflection
Mentor coaching

Professional Development

Coaching business
Pricing
Marketing basics
Client acquisition

Certification Prep

Logbooks
Portfolio
ICF assessment
Final evaluation

Here is a master evaluation framework for world-class coaches grounded in both:

International Coaching Federation (ICF)
COMENSA

These bodies define the gold standard through competencies like ethics, presence, listening, awareness, growth, and professionalism .

Important Truth First

There is no official “300 criteria list” from ICF or COMENSA.

Instead:

ICF → 8 core competencies (with ~50+ behavioral markers)
COMENSA → 9 competency domains with behavioral indicators

Here is a 300-point MASTERY FRAMEWORK used by elite coaches (MCC-level thinking).

300 CRITERIA OF ELITE COACHING (ICF + COMENSA ALIGNED)

1. ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

Demonstrates integrity in all interactions
Maintains strict confidentiality
Clearly explains coaching vs therapy/consulting
Avoids conflicts of interest
Works within scope of competence
Refers clients when necessary
Contracts transparently
Manages boundaries professionally
Uses ethical decision-making frameworks
Documents agreements clearly
Handles sensitive topics responsibly
Protects client data
Maintains neutrality
Avoids dependency creation
Practices fairness and inclusivity
Respects cultural differences
Upholds professional reputation
Avoids manipulation or influence
Uses consent-based coaching
Maintains ethical marketing
Avoids false claims
Honors commitments
Uses supervision when needed
Recognizes ethical dilemmas early
Applies ethical frameworks under pressure
Maintains professionalism in communication
Handles dual relationships carefully
Protects psychological safety
Maintains ethical record keeping
Adheres to ICF/COMENSA codes
Demonstrates accountability
Uses ethical pricing practices
Declines inappropriate engagements
Maintains legal awareness
Avoids bias in coaching
Practices ethical influence
Maintains client autonomy
Handles complaints professionally
Aligns actions with values
Models ethical leadership

2. COACHING MINDSET & PRESENCE

Maintains curiosity
Demonstrates non-judgment
Stays present in sessions
Regulates emotions
Practices self-awareness
Uses intuition appropriately
Lets go of ego
Embraces uncertainty
Adapts to client energy
Practices mindfulness
Remains client-centered
Avoids fixing or advising
Holds silence effectively
Trusts the coaching process
Manages distractions
Demonstrates patience
Maintains focus
Reflects between sessions
Uses reflective journaling
Engages in continuous learning
Seeks feedback
Practices supervision
Builds emotional resilience
Maintains energy
Uses somatic awareness
Reads emotional cues
Handles discomfort
Stays grounded
Adapts style dynamically
Balances structure and flow
Uses presence to influence depth
Manages own triggers
Practices humility
Maintains authenticity
Builds confidence in client
Encourages independence
Avoids over-coaching
Uses pacing effectively
Holds transformational space
Demonstrates mastery-level awareness

3. CONTRACTING & AGREEMENTS

Clarifies coaching goals
Defines session outcomes
Aligns expectations
Contracts roles and responsibilities
Establishes boundaries
Defines success measures
Re-contracts when needed
Aligns stakeholder expectations
Clarifies confidentiality terms
Defines session structure
Sets timelines
Aligns values
Clarifies client agenda
Establishes accountability structures
Manages scope creep
Aligns coaching vs mentoring
Sets feedback expectations
Defines communication methods
Aligns outcomes with purpose
Ensures mutual understanding
Clarifies coaching approach
Uses powerful opening questions
Aligns session focus
Tracks progress vs goals
Adjusts agreements dynamically
Uses contracting as intervention
Builds ownership
Ensures clarity at every session
Checks alignment continuously
Closes agreements effectively

4. TRUST & RELATIONSHIP

Builds rapport quickly
Creates psychological safety
Demonstrates empathy
Validates client experience
Shows genuine care
Builds mutual respect
Maintains non-judgment
Holds confidentiality visibly
Encourages vulnerability
Uses emotional intelligence
Builds trust over time
Handles resistance
Manages conflict
Maintains consistency
Demonstrates reliability
Builds deep connection
Uses tone effectively
Reads non-verbal cues
Holds space for emotions
Encourages honesty
Supports difficult conversations
Builds client confidence
Maintains neutrality
Avoids attachment
Builds credibility
Demonstrates authenticity
Uses humor appropriately
Builds long-term trust
Supports identity shifts
Creates safe challenge
Encourages openness
Builds relational depth
Handles emotional breakdowns
Maintains compassion
Encourages accountability
Builds co-ownership
Maintains professionalism
Supports transformation
Holds tension safely
Creates trust under pressure

5. ACTIVE LISTENING

Listens beyond words
Detects patterns
Identifies limiting beliefs
Listens for emotions
Listens for values
Listens for identity
Avoids interrupting
Uses silence effectively
Reflects accurately
Summarizes clearly
Uses paraphrasing
Detects contradictions
Identifies blind spots
Listens systemically
Tracks themes
Notices energy shifts
Identifies assumptions
Uses minimal encouragers
Avoids leading
Detects meaning
Listens for language patterns
Identifies metaphors
Uses reflective listening
Notices emotional shifts
Tracks progress
Uses deep listening levels
Avoids internal dialogue
Maintains full attention
Uses curiosity
Identifies core issues
Recognizes resistance
Listens to what’s not said
Uses body language awareness
Tracks alignment
Listens across sessions
Builds insight through listening
Uses listening to challenge
Enhances awareness
Builds clarity
Enables breakthroughs

6. POWERFUL QUESTIONING & AWARENESS

Asks open-ended questions
Avoids “why” judgment questions
Uses short, powerful questions
Challenges assumptions
Expands thinking
Evokes insight
Encourages reflection
Uses future-focused questions
Uses present awareness
Creates breakthroughs
Uses reframing
Challenges limiting beliefs
Uses scaling questions
Uses perspective shifts
Encourages ownership
Builds self-awareness
Explores values
Uses metaphor
Encourages creativity
Facilitates discovery
Deepens thinking
Encourages responsibility
Uses strategic questioning
Avoids advice disguised as questions
Creates clarity
Identifies options
Encourages decision-making
Breaks mental blocks
Encourages courage
Challenges identity
Supports transformation
Links past-present-future
Uses systemic questioning
Encourages emotional awareness
Builds insight loops
Creates aha moments
Uses timing effectively
Matches client readiness
Encourages truth
Drives awareness

7. ACTION & ACCOUNTABILITY

Translates insight into action
Defines clear next steps
Builds accountability
Tracks commitments
Encourages ownership
Aligns action with values
Sets measurable goals
Builds habits
Uses progress tracking
Encourages experimentation
Builds discipline
Removes obstacles
Encourages follow-through
Tracks results
Builds consistency
Uses accountability structures
Reinforces progress
Celebrates wins
Addresses setbacks
Builds resilience
Encourages reflection
Aligns actions with identity
Uses stretch goals
Builds execution mindset
Maintains momentum
Encourages responsibility
Builds long-term change
Reinforces learning
Tracks behavioral change
Enables sustainable growth

8. SELF-MASTERY & DEVELOPMENT

Engages in CPD
Seeks supervision
Reflects on sessions
Records insights
Tracks growth
Builds coaching philosophy
Develops niche expertise
Improves questioning skills
Refines listening
Builds presence
Seeks feedback
Learns from mistakes
Studies human behavior
Develops emotional intelligence
Builds business skills
Improves communication
Builds personal brand
Develops thought leadership
Expands tools
Practices coaching regularly
Engages in peer coaching
Builds resilience
Manages burnout
Builds discipline
Tracks performance metrics
Improves session quality
Develops frameworks
Learns systems thinking
Expands cultural awareness
Develops ethical maturity
Builds influence
Enhances intuition
Develops leadership
Builds confidence
Improves storytelling
Refines coaching models
Builds impact measurement
Expands network
Builds legacy thinking
Commits to mastery

Become the Coach You Were Always Meant to Be

What if the difference between a good coach and a truly transformational one wasn't some dramatic overnight shift, but a series of small, deliberate choices, made consistently, that compound into something extraordinary?

That's the premise behind atomic habits. And it's a foundation of the Level123 Coach Training Cohort.

Clarity before confidence. Coaches don't struggle because they lack talent. They struggle because they lack a clear map. In this cohort, you get exactly that, a step-by-step framework that removes the guesswork from growth. You'll know what to do, when to do it, and why it works. Precision becomes your new default.

Transformation you can feel. Habits only stick when they mean something. This isn't a program where you absorb theory and hope for the best. You'll experience the shift, in your confidence, in your conversations, in the breakthroughs your clients start having. That feeling of genuine impact? It becomes the fuel that keeps you showing up.

Simple beats complicated — every time. Great coaches are made, not born. And the best training doesn't overwhelm; it builds. Every week, one focused action. One refined skill. One small step that quietly compounds into something you'll look back on and barely recognise as the same practice.

Progress you can see and celebrate. We're wired to repeat what feels good. In this cohort, your growth isn't invisible, it's visible, measurable, and worth celebrating. Every session mastered, every client breakthrough, every skill sharpened is a marker of how far you've come. And that momentum? It's addictive in the best way.

Systems outlast goals. Goals tell you where you want to go. Systems get you there, and keep you there. This cohort doesn't just hand you knowledge; it installs a structure for continuous improvement. Session frameworks. Client follow-up rhythms. Techniques you implement so consistently that excellence stops being an effort and starts being your standard.

Compounding is the secret weapon. A 1% improvement, repeated daily, doesn't add up, it multiplies. The coaches who join this cohort aren't just getting better for one client or one season. They're building careers where reputation compounds, referrals grow, and the work becomes richer with every passing year.

You don't change what you do, you change who you are. This is the deepest shift. Every action you take reinforces your identity. Every session you show up for, every skill you commit to, every client you serve with intention, it all adds up to something more than a better practice. It adds up to a different sense of who you are as a coach.

So the question is not can you grow?, but are you ready to stop leaving growth to chance?

Join the next Level123 Coach Training Cohort. One small, powerful step at a time, until the coach you aspired to be is simply the coach you are.

Click Here to Join

Buffalo Coach Training Offer #3

From Curious to Credentialed

Why This Coaching Programme Is the One You've Been Looking For

There's a moment most coaches recognise, the one where you realise that knowing about coaching and truly mastering it are two very different things.

You've done the reading. You've watched the demos. Maybe you've even completed a short course or two. But something is still missing: the depth, the structure, the credibility, and the confidence to walk into any coaching room, or any assessment, and know you belong there.

That's exactly what Level123Coaching.co.za's Integrated Coach Training Programme is designed to change.

A Programme Built for the Real World.

This isn't a weekend workshop. It's a 20-week, 60-contact-hour spiral curriculum, and it's aligned to not one, but three of the most respected coaching bodies in the world:

ICF (International Coaching Federation)
EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council)
COMENSA (Coaching and Mentoring South Africa)
QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations)

What does that mean for you? It means the hours you invest here count toward credentials that open doors. From ACC to PCC to MCC, from Level 1 to Level 3. Whether you're pursuing local recognition or building an internationally portable practice, this programme has you covered.

Four Phases. One Transformative Journey.

The programme is structured across four carefully designed phases, each one building on the last.

Phase 1 — Foundations (Weeks 1–5): You'll begin where every great coach must: with ethics, presence, and the core skills that assessors actually look for. You'll explore global codes of ethics, build psychological safety, and learn frameworks like GROW, SMART, and CLEAR that will anchor every session you run.

Phase 2 — Applied Coaching (Weeks 6–10): Now you go deeper. Neuroscience for coaches. Values elicitation. Identity-level work. Team coaching foundations. This is where you stop coaching the story and start coaching the person.

Phase 3 — Professional Practice & Supervised Depth (Weeks 11–15): Three-way contracting with organisations. Shadow coaching. Trauma awareness. Advanced ethics scenarios. Real-world complexity, handled with real professional skill.

Phase 4 — Mastery, Integration & Research-Informed Practice (Weeks 16–20): Systemic constellations. Research literacy. Reflective case studies. Credential pathways for all four bodies. By the end, you won't just be a practitioner, you'll be a thought-informed practitioner who knows why what they do works.

What You'll Walk Away With

Here's what this programme actually delivers:

Assessment confidence. You'll know exactly what ICF and COMENSA assessors are listening for, and how to give it to them. No more guessing. No more hoping your recording is "good enough."

A session structure that works. The CEAAL Framework (Contract → Explore → Awareness → Action → Learning) gives every session a clear arc that serves the client and satisfies assessors.

Questions that genuinely transform. You'll retire "what should you do?" forever, and replace it with questions like "What do you know that you've been avoiding?" and "What would your wisest self say?"

The mindset shift that separates average coaches from great ones. Curiosity over judgment. Partnership, not authority. Presence over planning. These aren't just phrases, they're skills you'll practise, record, and refine.

Ethical clarity. Dual relationships, confidentiality, safeguarding, referral decisions. You'll be equipped to navigate the grey areas with confidence and integrity.

Why Most Coaches Plateau. How This Programme Stops That

The uncomfortable truth? Most coaches fail to grow beyond a certain point, not because they lack talent, but because they've never been shown what mastery actually looks like in practice.

They talk too much. They give advice disguised as questions. They ignore emotional shifts. They rush to action before awareness has landed. They end sessions with a task list instead of integration.

This programme names all of it. Clearly, honestly, and without judgment. Then it gives you the tools to change it.

You'll learn the difference between a contaminated question and a clean one. Between weak coaching and strong coaching. Between a coach who fills every silence and one who uses it strategically, counting to seven before responding, because that's where insight lives.

The CEAAL Framework: Structure That Serves

Many professional coaching sessions follows this structure:

C — Contract: Agree the session focus. What does the client want? What does success look like for them today?

E — Explore: Use questions to help the client examine their situation fully. Stay curious, no problem-solving yet.

A — Awareness: Notice and name shifts in thinking. What is the client discovering? What new perspective is emerging?

A — Action: Support the client to identify meaningful next steps that feel owned by them, not assigned by you.

L — Learning: Close by helping the client reflect on what they've learned about themselves and their situation.

Simple. Elegant. Assessor-approved.

This Is for You If…

You're working toward your ICF ACC, PCC or COMENSA Level 1 or 2 and need structured preparation
You want a credential pathway recognised in South Africa through COMENSA or QCTO
You're already coaching but know your sessions could go deeper
You're ready to move from "I know the theory" to "I live the practice"
You want to build a coaching practice that commands respect, and premium rates

The Numbers That Signal Seriousness

20 weeks of structured, progressive learning
60 contact hours across the full programme
4 internationally recognised bodies aligned in one curriculum
2 × 90-minute sessions per week
Supervision, mentoring, and portfolio development built into the process
A 1:1 PCC Assessment Accelerator available for those who want to go even further, including personalised review of your recordings

What Comes After That? The Pathway Doesn't Stop Here.

One of the most powerful things about Level123's approach is the long view.

Completing this programme isn't the end. It's the beginning of a vertical development journey that can take you all the way to Master Coach level. You'll understand the difference between Level 2 (PCC-ready, competency-based, structured) and Level 4 (scholarly, research-capable, multi-framework, thought leader).

And when you're ready to make that leap, to go from "I can coach" to "I shape the profession" , Level123 has the pathway waiting.

One Final Thought

Coaching mastery is not a destination. The coaches who grow the most are those who never stop questioning their own practice. Those who bring their toughest cases to supervision, who record their sessions and listen back with honest ears, who stay genuinely curious long after the certificates are framed on the wall.

This programme is designed for those coaches. The ones who take the work seriously. The ones who know their clients deserve nothing less than their very best.

If that's you, Level123Coaching.co.za is the next step.

Facilitated by Gavin Dick | Level123Coaching.co.za | Integrated Coach Training Programme

Ready to begin? Visit Level123Coaching.co.za to find out more.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse